How to set up a static IP address

Sometimes, you might need to ensure your internet protocol (IP) address doesn’t change. This is called a static IP address, and it isn’t necessary for most people. However, a static IP may be important if you run certain kinds of servers or business applications from your network. Let’s go through a quick overview of what static IPs are and when you might need one.

Your public IP address is the unique code that identifies your network to the wider internet. Think of how your home address allows other people to send you mail, deliver food, or come to your home to visit. An IP address is similar in that it tells other networks where to send data that you request.

It’s normal for a public IP address to change occasionally, such as when you reset your router. That’s because your internet service provider (ISP) assigns your IP address dynamically, so you may get a different address when you turn your router back on. A dynamic IP address is fine for most people, but some may need a static public IP to host or access certain services.

There are also private IP addresses, which are assigned by your router’s DHCP server to identify different devices on your network. Computers, phones, printers, and other web-enabled devices all receive private IPs. You might set up a private static IP for convenience if you want certain devices to keep the same private IP addresses within your network.

Most people will never need to set up a static public IP address. However, a static IP can be important for certain use cases, such as:

You’re hosting an external-facing server on your network.
You need full remote access to your network and its security features while traveling.
You need to connect to external services that require IP whitelisting, such as secure corporate servers.

If you’re not sure whether you need a static IP, feel free to contact us for more information. We’ll help you determine whether a static IP is a good choice for your network.

You can’t set up a static public IP address on your own. Since your ISP is responsible for assigning public IPs, you’ll need to contact them to ensure your public IP is reserved for your network. However, you might have other options that can perform similar functions, such as using a dynamic DNS service.

As noted earlier, a static private IP address is different from a static public IP. Usually, you can set up a private static IP address yourself through your router’s DHCP settings.

Brightspeed offers static IP addresses for lease at a monthly rate. There are no minimum service speeds to order a static IP address from Brightspeed. However, we are currently unable to offer static IPs to our prepaid customers.

We offer the ability to lease a single static public IP address or a block of up to 64 static IPs.

If you’d like to order a static IP, contact our team for help. For more information on static IP addresses, including how to configure your IP address, see our static IP FAQ.